A really impressive poem, Flyntland. It has echoes of my chlldhood, and that of my parents, I suspect. I can just remember those old East End streets which, later, I only knew as a view from a train. But the rabbits and the Co-op stamps are very familiar.
Thanks for this.
Comment is about DOWN OUR STREET (blog)
Original item by Flyntland
Nice humour, Rick, but, as Uilleam says, there's a serious message. We should respect all work and make sure it is paid properly.
Comment is about I Only Work for The Council (blog)
Original item by Rick Varden
Thanks for posting this, David. You're right. Michael Longley is very much a first world war poet, as well as being a poet of the Troubles
Comment is about Acclaimed Northern Irish poet Michael Longley dies aged 85 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks, Rick.
ONLY?
It's about time those whose physical hard work - sometimes dangerous - which makes our homes and streets liveable and safe, were given the respect they deserve...and a respect which is reflected in their wages and conditions.
Turn left!
Comment is about I Only Work for The Council (blog)
Original item by Rick Varden
Thank you, Landi.
Mr Speaker, given the Titanic success of Brexit, my constituents are now in full agreement that pigs now have been sucessfully persuaded to take to the air; a miracle achieved through the application of copious quantities of excrement of bovine origin to the political discourse within in his Majesty’s donkey sanctuary.
It's my constituents' considered opinion that that sheep too, propelled with the aid of Faragean flatulence, may also be encouraged to emulate our porcine brothers (and sisters) and fly off to the promised sunlit uplands where they can nest in all those lovely poetrees.
Thank you, Mr Speaker….baaaaah, baaaaah, baaaaah, baaaaah, baaaaah.
Comment is about "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity" (blog)
Original item by Landi Cruz
Thank you Tom. She was an original and will be sorely missed, at least by me.
Comment is about OVERWHELMED: AS TEARS GO BY (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Thanks for extra likes: Hélène & Marla Joy. 👍
Comment is about My Name Is Tom (blog)
Original item by Tom Doolan
I like this one, Tom. We are all on a journey.
Comment is about Hinterland Blues (blog)
Original item by Tom
I'm sure that many of us have lived this poem with you, Jonathan. Well done.
Comment is about Schrödinger's Mouse (blog)
Original item by Jonathan Humble
Very true, Graham. Time has become this unforgiving, gloating presence, waiting for us around every corner.
And my thanks to everyone who liked this poem.
Comment is about Single Speed (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
I love this one John.
Comment is about OVERWHELMED: AS TEARS GO BY (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Hi Nigel, thanks for the like. Enjoying your work also.
Comment is about Nigel Astell (poet profile)
Original item by Nigel Astell
Great, colorful metaphor. Marla
Comment is about Little Criminals (blog)
Original item by Mike McPeek
I agree. Poetry is a wonderful means of expressing truth, and others respond to it on one level or another, whether they realize it or not.
Comment is about Poetry i (blog)
Original item by Noris Roberts
I love that, Jonathan.
Shades of Robbie Burns' 'To a Mouse'?💗
Comment is about Schrödinger's Mouse (blog)
Original item by Jonathan Humble
It was all wonderfully random, Trevor. 2 of these make that. 2 and a half of these make that. 12 of these make that.
It made for brilliant maths exam questions like “If concrete costs £11/5/7 per cubic ton, how much does it cost to concrete a back yard measuring 27ft 8” by 14ft 5” to a depth of 4 inches. (Slide rules are not permitted)”
Comment is about OLD MONEY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Wonderfully pictorial, Trevor. And enhanced by the structural repetition.
Comment is about Far Horizon (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
Thanks Flyntland , personally I find it’s quite the challenge to word ‘haunting sad’ in prose, much more so in poetry. You are much appreciated 👍🏻🙏🏻🕊🌷
Comment is about “bridge is out “ (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxIJnZQmTt4
Comment is about Luddite (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Hey, David,
I often use dictionaries for the sake of precision and was looking up the definition of "verbosity" a few evenings ago. Long story short, one thing led to another and I ended up stumbling into this title of a publishing sting written by a guy named Sokal and fell in love--I had to share it. I mean it just seems to sum up so eloquently how people have such a profound capacity for confusing the experience of reality for reality itself.
And, the bursting thought bubble at the end of the video...
perfection.
Btw, I read your comment which included Michael Longley's poem--very affecting, that 🌷
And, thanks to all for looking in )
Comment is about "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity" (blog)
Original item by Landi Cruz
Did you forget the two-bob bit
that older people called a florin
while they would look askance at it
because it sounded somewhat foreign?
Nice trip down memory lane John. I remember as a child getting my "Saturday penny" from my grandad to spend on sweets at the corner shop - it used to buy 4 'fruit salad' or 'blackjacks'.
Comment is about OLD MONEY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I have relocated squirrels and asked myself the same questions - I can now afford squirrel-proof bird feeders - squirrels now help themselves to fallen seed and it makes me feel a little better.
Comment is about Schrödinger's Mouse (blog)
Original item by Jonathan Humble
"Forgetting the faces we wore,
the warmth that once held us close"
Hauntingly beautiful,
Hauntingly sad.
demanding more than one or two readings
I love it.
Comment is about “bridge is out “ (blog)
Original item by Red Brick Keshner
Nigel. RBK. Tom and Hugh thank you so much for reading and for
liking.
Stephen G., Stephen A. and Holden thank you, likes are so important and encouraging.
and finally, K.Lynn and Naomi thank you also for reading and pressing that little button.
Comment is about OPAQUE (blog)
Original item by Flyntland
Thanks for likes: Red Brick Keshner, Graham S, hugh, Stephen G, Naomi, Stephen W & K. Lynn. 👍
Comment is about My Name Is Tom (blog)
Original item by Tom Doolan
I love your descriptive style of writing - I found this poem chilling and it reignited the memory of 9/11 - justice was done in theory but can 'justice' ever really be done?
Comment is about "Black Hawks" (blog)
Original item by Emeka Collins
Unfortunately, Hugh, we have put people in charge of UK society who worship at the altar of the God of War. (so much for our alleged "Judaeo - Christian heritage").
They are determined that their God will be appeased, and are on record as saying "Nothing will stop us"... regardless of the genocide of a whole people, and the theft of their land.
Comment is about Positive future thoughts (blog)
Original item by hugh
Thank you very much for reading and your considered replies, very much appreciated.
Comment is about Evil Monster (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Brilliant stuff from Python,
I wonder if now in this age of "self identification" with disregard to absolute facts people might reclassify pythons style of comedy from "Nonsence" to prophetic philosophy...it seems completely rational to me.
Nice post Landi (pro-nouns not included)
David
Comment is about "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity" (blog)
Original item by Landi Cruz
Michael Longley was / is a wonderful poet. His reflections on Ireland speak with pure authenticity.
I first became aware of him when I was living in Northern Ireland and trying to get my head around the place. In my experience artists of all kinds are a good place to start. I read Heaney, Yeats, Muldoon...then I happened across Longley and wondered why it had taken me so long to find him.
My favourite poem of his is "Wounds" which speaks of generational trauma and the futility of war. It shook me when I read it, as it was at a time of much tit for tat murder in the sectarian slaughter that was and is almost dismissively referred to as "The troubles"
Wounds (1973)
Here are two pictures from my father’s head —
I have kept them like secrets until now:
First, the Ulster Division at the Somme
Going over the top with ‘Fuck the Pope!’
‘No Surrender!’: a boy about to die,
Screaming ‘Give ’em one for the Shankill!’
‘Wilder than Gurkhas’ were my father’s words
Of admiration and bewilderment.
Next comes the London-Scottish padre
Resettling kilts with his swagger-stick,
With a stylish backhand and a prayer.
Over a landscape of dead buttocks
My father followed him for fifty years.
At last, a belated casualty,
He said — lead traces flaring till they hurt —
‘I am dying for King and Country, slowly.’
I touched his hand, his thin head I touched.
Now, with military honours of a kind,
With his badges, his medals like rainbows,
His spinning compass, I bury beside him
Three teenage soldiers, bellies full of
Bullets and Irish beer, their flies undone.
A packet of Woodbines I throw in,
A lucifer, the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Paralysed as heavy guns put out
The night-light in a nursery for ever;
Also a bus-conductor’s uniform —
He collapsed beside his carpet-slippers
Without a murmur, shot through the head
By a shivering boy who wandered in
Before they could turn the television down
Or tidy away the supper dishes.
To the children, to a bewildered wife,
I think ‘Sorry Missus’ was what he said.
Poem © Michael Longley 1973. Source: An Exploded View by Michael Longley.
Comment is about Acclaimed Northern Irish poet Michael Longley dies aged 85 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Bathroom result in
Concluded with weapons sheathed
Pissing contest drawn
Comment is about A TOILET HAIKUPI (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
One thing we should all remember. It was us, human beings that invented the measurement of time. We captured ourselves.
Thought provoking as usual Stephen
G
Comment is about Single Speed (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Good stuff here, Rob. Truth on a sad subject.
Comment is about Pure Folly (blog)
Original item by Rob J Mann
Hi Johnathan. This struck a chord with me. We've nabbed a couple alive and put them back in the neighbouring field, but they probably come back. Dilemma indeed. Great writing.
Comment is about Tidy (blog)
Original item by Jonathan Humble
As Greg says, this should be read and re-read, Peter, and each time we will lose ourselves in your wonderful imagery.
Comment is about WORLDS IN WORDS (blog)
Original item by Peter Taylor
Thankyou, Gentlemen, for your thoughts on these matters. For years poets have tried to capture the essence of love, death, spirituality, nature and stuff and stuff like that. Clearly, given the response this post has elicited they have neglected one of the most important aspects of the human condition - wazzing.
Comment is about A TOILET HAIKUPI (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I can only agree with my fellow poets, Jordyn. Life is always worthwhile.
Comment is about Failure (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Thank you both for your comments ❤️ I will be just fine.
This is what poetry is for; Expressing what you can't always say out loud.
Comment is about Failure (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Thankyou Graham,
I have been experiencing the mind fog...very disconcerting.
I appreciate your message.
David.
Comment is about Luddite (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Gents need a good scrub
Cleaner is over-employed
Ammonia lingers
Comment is about A TOILET HAIKUPI (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Dad’s advice holds true
“Never waste a hard-on, son
Never pass a loo”
Comment is about A TOILET HAIKUPI (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I fully agree with Uilleam. You sound worn down, conflicted, honest, and, in your words, defeated. I am so sorry that you feel like this.
Remember that all things must pass - and that your life is just as important as anyone else's life.
Take care.
Comment is about Failure (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Conveniently, this made for 240 pennies in a pound.
Comment is about OLD MONEY (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
For me, your best piece yet!. So charismatic and real!
(personally I wouldn't have separated the two stanzas)
Comment is about An Old Poem (blog)
Original item by branwell kent
After my father died, perhaps two/three weeks after, I drove down the M1and only upon reaching the bottom of it at Staples Corner did I realise I was still driving. Reactions/reveries/memories call them what you will, surface at the most surprising and inconvenient moments. Be careful!
Comment is about Luddite (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Thanks to Uilleam and Landi and to all those who sent likes.
Saw the old man off today, now toasting him with a dram.
David
Comment is about Luddite (blog)
Original item by David RL Moore
Night out down the pub
More trips to the loo than pints
Time gentlemen please
Comment is about A TOILET HAIKUPI (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Can’t pass a toilet
Call into Costa Coffee
Best get a latte
Comment is about A TOILET HAIKUPI (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Tom Doolan
Sun 2nd Feb 2025 09:18
Thanks for likes: Red Brick Keshner, hugh, Hélène, Stephen G, Holden & Naomi 👍
Comment is about Picklehead (blog)
Original item by Tom Doolan